Интонация

Many people think that pronunciation is what makes up an accent. It may be that pronunciation is very important for an understandable accent. But it is intonation that gives the final touch that makes an accent native.

 

Intonation is the "music" of a language, and is perhaps the most important element of a good accent. Often we hear someone speaking with perfect grammar, and perfect formation of the sounds of English but with a little something that gives them away as not being a native speaker.

Therefore, it is necessary to realize that there is more than the correct pronunciation of the vowels and consonants of a language.

1. Intonation is - The use of pitch or tone in a sentence to convey meaning or emotion. Although the term when strictly used applies only to the pitch of speech, it is sometimes used loosely to indicate also the emphasis and pacing used in the spoken language.

2. Intonation is a complex unity of 4 components:

voice pitch (speach melody)

stress (acsent, sentence stress)

tempo (rate, rythm, pausation)

voice timbre

Voice pitch - the difference in the relative vibration frequency of the human voice that contributes to the total meaning of speech

Sentence stress means the various emphasis on the syllables in the words of a sentence.

5. Tempo - is a high frequency, speed on pronounciation either by the phrase, or its elements. Speaking rate is chosen based on the different factors: numbers of listenings, size of audience, individual Specifics of speaker, acoustic characteristic of audience and so the rate of speech is always subject to DETERMINATION norms. As a rule, our speech is 130 words per minute. Both slow and faster it will deviation fromstandards. tempo of speech depends on situation.

3. There are 2 main types of intonation in English:

Rising Intonation means the pitch of the voice rises over time [↗];

Falling Intonation means that the pitch falls with time [↘];

4.Standard unemphatic falling intonation is the most common type of intonation in English. It is used in statements (declarative sentences), special questions, commands (imperative sentences), exclamatory sentences, in the first part of disjunctive questions and in the last part of alternative questions. The final fall in English is used on the last stressed syllable of a sentence and falls stronger and deeper than the fall in Russian.

 

5. Statements She is ten years \OLD.We live in \MOScow

Special questions  Where do you \LIVE?How much \IS it?

Commands Close your books and \LISten.Turn left at the \POST office.

Exclamatory sentences How \NICE of you!Hel\LO! Good \MORNing!

Alternative questions Do you want /COFfee or \TEA?

Would you like to go for a /WALK or would you rather stay \HOME?

 

 

English rising intonation is a rather complicated phenomenon. It can express various emotions, such as non-finality, incompleteness, question, surprise, doubt, hesitation, interest, request and suggestion, politeness, readiness to continue the conversation, lack of confidence, and even insecurity. Rising intonation in English is very different from rising intonation in Russian. For example, the final rise in English general questions first goes down a little and then up, but not as high as the rise in Russian questions.

 

rising intonation is used for the emotions mentioned above, but you should understand that rising intonation in different situations may sound differently. For example, a rise expressing surprise may sound a little different from a rise expressing polite interest or a rise asking to repeat.

 

Rising intonation is used in general questions, in introductory phrases (at the beginning of the sentence), in the first part of alternative questions (before "or"), in the second part of tag questions (see explanation below), in direct address, and in enumerating items in a list.

 

6. General questions Have you read this /BOOK?Are you ready to /START?

Introductory phrases If he /CALLS, ask him to \COME.

According to his /WORDS, he met that girl at the \TENnis club.

Alternative questions Would you like an /APple or a \PEAR?

Does he speak /ENGlish or \GERman?

Direct address /SIR, you dropped your \NOTEbook.

Mr. /SMITH, your papers are \READy.

Enumerating /One, /two, /three, /four, \five.

She bought /bread, /cheese, and to\MAtoes.

 

7.Tag questions

falling - the falling tone is always used in the first part of tag questions (disjunctive questions). Despite the fact that tag questions are asked to get confirmation and agreement, the answer may be affirmative or negative

 

You \LIVE here, /DON'T you? (The speaker thinks you live here but isn't sure and asks for confirmation.)

 

You \LIVE here, \DON'T you? (The speaker is sure and expects the answer "yes".)

 

 

 

rising - The choice of a rise or a fall in the second part of tag questions depends on whether the speaker is sure of getting an affirmative answer.

 

It's a beautiful \TOWN, /ISN'T it? (The speaker thinks that the town is beautiful but asks for your opinion and confirmation.)

 

It's a beautiful \TOWN, \ISN'T it? (The speaker is sure that the town is beautiful and expects you to agree.)